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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    CRPS - How do I get it diagnosed and treated?

    Related Topics
    Children's Health Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Pain
    I think my daughter may be have CRPS after an injury to her foot. Do I sgo back to the GP and ask for a referral, and if so, to whom? An Ortho? Rheumatoid specialist? Pain Clinic?
    Thank you. Jenny
    • 2 answers
    • Dr Andrew Lemon
    • Erika Lassig
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  • 1

    Agree

    Dr Andrew Lemon

    Osteopath

    Andrew is a bayside local who has been working in the area since gaining his Masters in Osteopathy from Victoria University, Melbourne. He has always … View Profile

    CRPS is a complicated condition often involving neurological changes following a traumatic event and is usually a diagnosis of exclusion.

    http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy/detail_reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy.htmFirst would be to rule out any mechanical reasoning for her condition from a manual health care practitioner experienced in such conditions.

    Following this I would recommend consulting a pain clinic or somewhere that has knowledge and experience with dealing with such complex conditions. Treatment should revolve around exercise in restablishing normal neurological function of the area.

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    Thanks

    Erika Lassig

    Occupational Therapist (OT)

    Erika has over 10 years experience practising hand therapy. She has worked in hand and upper limb rehabilitation at a variety of centres including Logan … View Profile

    A diagnosis may be provided by either an orthopaedic surgeon or pain specialist, both of which require a GP referral for you to receive a medicare rebate. The best treatment is a multi-disciplinary approach provided by a team of doctors and allied health professionals. Treatment usually includes a combination of pain relief medication, education and specific exercises or activities that work on retrainig the pain and sensory centres in the brain. These series of exercises are called graded motor imagery. Learning to use the limb as normally as possible despite pain is also very important. This is becuase in most CRPS cases, pain exists regardless of whether the affected foot or hand is being used.

    I hope you find some answers for your daughter.

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